Plant variety of Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum named &#39;Sato&#39;s Dwarf Red&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new plant variety of  Loropetalum chinese  var.  rubrum  named ‘Sato&#39;s Dwarf Red’, having a low growing, compact habit and red foliage throughout the year.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum Yieh

VARIETAL NAME

‘Sato's Dwarf Red’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum and was developed in a controlled breeding program in Angyo Kichi Zo, Saitama Prefecture, Japan by the originator Mr. Noboru Sato. The varietal denomination of the new variety is ‘Sato's Dwarf Red’.

The genus Loropetalum is included in the family Hamamelidaceae that comprises about 15 genera of shrubs and trees growing in the northern hemisphere. Loropetalum comprises one species of evergreen shrub or small tree, which possesses desirable ornamental characteristics. Loropetalum was first introduced to Europe as an ornamental plant in the 1880 s, and is believed to have been cultivated in North America since the early 1930s.

Loropetalum chinense is a native of China, and was first discovered in 1928 in Hunan province. It was rediscovered in the late 1980 s and subsequently introduced to the United States. Loropetalum chinense generally has alternate, ovate leaves to 6 cm. long and 3 cm. wide. The plant is evergreen or partly evergreen depending on winter temperature. Leaf color ranges from light to dark burgundy, occasionally green, depending on light intensity, cultural conditions and cultivar. Shoots are slender, brown, and densely pubescent, pit is solid. Leaves are generally densely pubescent overall.

Flowers of Loropetalum chinense are perfect, four strap like, about 2 cm. long, and about 0.3 cm. wide petals. Three to six flowers are together in each leaf axil. Pedicel and calyx have a white pubescence. Flower color is pinkish to reddish purple depending on the cultivar. Flowering is heaviest in early spring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety was discovered as a open pollinated seedling in a controlled planting of Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum (unnamed, unpatented) and differs from other cultivars known to the inventor, including its parents, in having a low growing, compact habit and red foliage throughout the plant year. Asexual reproduction of the new variety by stem cuttings performed in Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan has confirmed that the distinctive characteristics of the new variety are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS AND COMPARABLE VARIETIES

‘Sato's Dwarf Red’ is distinguished from its parents and all other varieties of Loropetalum chinense of which I am aware by its prostrate, compact habit, reaching no more than 60 cm in height and 90 to 180 cm in width, and its year-round burgundy red foliage. ‘Sato's Dwarf Red’ can be compared with Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum ‘Hindwarf’ (Plant Pat. No. 12,203); ‘Hindwarf’ is approximately the same size and habit as ‘Sato's Dwarf Red’, but the mature foliage of ‘Hindwarf’ turns dark green in color while ‘Sato's Dwarf Red’ maintains its burgundy red foliage into maturity. ‘Sato's Dwarf Red’ can also can be compared with Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum ‘Ruby’ (unpatented); ‘Ruby’ matures to approximately about 120 cm high and about 90 cm wide. ‘Sato's Dwarf Red’ also can be compared with Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum ‘Hines Purpleleaf’ (unpatented), which reaches about 4.5 m high and about 3.5 m wide at maturity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The accompanying illustrations show a specimen of the new cultivar in a photo illustration as true to color as is reasonably possible to make in an illustration of this character.

FIG. 1 illustrates the new variety in a No. 1 nursery container; young and mature foliage are visible.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum ‘Sato's Dwarf Red’ has not been observed under all possible environmental, cultural, and light conditions. The following observations and descriptions are of plants grown in containers at Lewisberry, Pa., and Angyo Kichi Zo, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Phenotypic expression may vary with light intensity, cultural, and environmental conditions. In this description, color references are to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (2001) and terminology used in this color chart. As with many plants in the Hamamelidaceae family, phenotypic characteristics can be dramatically different in terms of growth morphology. For example, viewing this plant in Vacaville, Calif., the growth habit is distinctly pendulous, growing down the pot and tending to have a horizontal growth form.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.— Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum Yieh ‘Sato's             Dwarf Red’.         -   Parentage.—Mother Plant: Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum             (unnamed, unpatented) Father Plant: Loropetalum chinense             var. rubrum (unnamed, unpatented).         -   Propagation.—By vegetative cuttings. -   Plant:     -   -   Typical size.—To 60 cm in height and 180 cm in width.         -   Habit.—Prostrate to mounding branching habit.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 7 (0.degree. F. to 7.degree. F.).         -   Vigor.—Moderate.         -   Pests/diseases.—No pest or disease problems noted. -   Branches:     -   -   Branching.—Densely branched.         -   Lateral branches.—Multi-branched shrub.         -   Branch size.—Typical branch about 1 m. long, pendulous.         -   Branch diameter.—Typical branch about 1 cm. in diameter;             branch apex is typically about 1 mm. or less in diameter.         -   Branch Color.—Near Grayed-Orange Group 177A. -   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Simple, alternate.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Leaf size.—About 1 to 2.5 cm. long; 1 to 1.5 cm. wide.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute to obtuse.         -   Leaf base.—Obtuse to acute; occasionally unequal.         -   Leaf margin.—Entire, with stellate hairs.         -   Leaf texture/substance.—Firm to leathery; upper surface and             glossy, with impressed veins; underside glaucous with             greenish veins and whitish midrib, with scattered stellate             hairs.         -   Leaf color.—Varies with intensity of sunlight and cultural             conditions; the following color readings were taken in             August of plants grown in full sun conditions.         -   New foliage.—Upper Side: Near Greyed-Purple Group 185 A-B             Under Side: Near Red-Purple Group 60A-B.         -   Mature foliage.—Upper Side: Near Greyed-Purple Group 183A-B             Under Side: Near Greyed-Green Group 186A-B.         -   Venation.—Upper Surface: Pinnate Under Surface: Pinnate.         -   Venation color.—New Foliage Upper Surface: Near             Greyed-Purple Group 185A-B Under Surface: Near Red-Purple             Group 60A-B Mature Foliage Upper Surface: Near Greyed-Purple             Group 183A-B Under Surface: Near Greyed-Green Group 186A-B.         -   Petioles.—Size: Approximately 1 to 3 mm long; approximately             0.8 mm wide Color: Near Greyed-Orange Group 177B-C (upper             and lower surfaces).         -   Internodes.—Approximately 0.5 to 1.5 cm. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Bloom period.—Early spring with occasional light repeat             blooming throughout the growing season.         -   Flower form.—Perfect, about 8 to 11 pinkish colored             strap-like petals per flower.         -   Flower arrangement.—Congested terminal raceme on short             peduncle, occasionally solitary at terminals or in leaf             axils; about 6 to 8 flowers per inflorescence.         -   Flower size.—Approximately 1.5 to 2.0 cm long and about 1 to             2 mm wide.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 8 mm.         -   Depth.—About 8 mm.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms: Between 2 and 3 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—None noted.         -   Petals.—Color Upper Surface: From near Red Group 55B to 51A,             53C, 52A and 53D Lower Surface: From near Red group 55B and             51A, 52A and 53D Length/Width: About 1.5 cm long and about 1             mm wide Apex: Flat Margin: Smooth.         -   Buds.—Length: Approximately 3 mm Diameter: Approximately 2             mm Color: Near Red-Purple Group 60B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: Approximately 1 mm Diameter:             Approximately 0.5 mm. Color: Light brown. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—4.         -   Stigma.—1.         -   Pistils.—1.         -   Pollen.—Amount Produced: Minute. Color: Off-white.         -   Fruit.—Type: Ovoid, woody, 2-horned capsule, one seed per             each cell Amount: About 75 to 100 per plant per year Length:             About 5 mm. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum plant, substantially as shown and described. 